2017 CDA Book Award Winners
The recipients are:
The CDA Book Awards Committee led by Chair, Past President General Audrey Svensson has named the winners:
AWARD
Title:
Razzle Dazzle – The Battle for Broadway
Author:
Michael Riedel
About
In the 1970s, Times Square was crumbling—riddled with crime, decay, and fading dreams. At its heart stood the flailing Shubert Organization, once a Broadway titan. Razzle Dazzle tells the gripping story of how Bernard Jacobs and Jerry Schoenfeld seized control, battled scandal and sabotage, and transformed a dying company into a theatrical powerhouse. Their bold leadership revived Broadway and helped reinvent New York itself. With backstage intrigue, high-stakes deals, and legendary productions like Cats and A Chorus Line, this fast-paced history reveals how ambition, showmanship, and sheer willpower saved the Great White Way—and gave it back its shine.
CITATION
Title:
THE MATHEWS MEN: Seven Brothers and the War Against Hitler’s U-Boats
Author:
William Geroux
About
The Mathews Men tells the powerful true story of a Virginia community whose sons served as U.S. Merchant Mariners during World War II. Centered on the Hodges family—seven brothers who sailed into the war’s deadliest waters—it reveals how these civilians risked their lives to transport vital supplies while under constant threat from German U-boats. Facing torpedoes, storms, and fiery shipwrecks, their courage and resilience were unmatched. Often overlooked in history, these mariners played a critical role in the Allied victory. William Geroux’s account brings their heroism to light, offering a gripping, human portrait of sacrifice beyond traditional battlefields.
YOUNG READER
Title:
The H. L. Hunley Submarine
History and Mystery from the Civil War
Author:
Fran Hawk
Illustrator:
Monica Wyrick
About
The H. L. Hunley was a marvel of Civil War innovation—the first submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat. Built by the Confederacy, it vanished after its historic mission, sparking a century-long mystery. This gripping account traces the Hunley’s invention, its daring wartime use, and the trials it faced without a motor or modern technology. Rediscovered over 100 years later, the submarine captivated archaeologists and historians, who unearthed remarkable findings and lingering questions. The story of the Hunley is one of courage, persistence, and curiosity—a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the enduring intrigue of the past.